As your air conditioner gets older, it’s increasingly important to pay attention to how the unit is operating. There will be a point where your air conditioner takes a turn and begins needing more frequent or serious repairs. If you pay attention to the signs, you can take action and invest in a new air conditioner before yours breaks down completely.
The question is, how do you know when it’s time to schedule AC installation in Riverside? You can keep reading to learn more about some of the signs that your air conditioner is reaching the end of its lifespan and it’s time to invest in an upgrade. Then, give our team a call to schedule your in-home assessment so we can help you review your upgrade options.
AC Lifespan
You can expect a residential air conditioner to last for between 10 and 15 years on average. Some air conditioners do last slightly longer, but a lot comes down to how well you keep up with maintenance. Most manufacturers’ warranties last through about 10 years and around 15 year mark you can expect to begin considering an AC replacement.
Even if your air conditioner has the potential to last longer, we still encourage you to consider a replacement closer to the 15 year mark rather than putting it off. The older your air conditioner gets, the more outdated its safety features are and the less efficient it is compared to newer models that are being installed.
Signs It’s Time for an AC Replacement
Aside from age, there are some other factors that can indicate it’s time for you to upgrade your current air conditioner to a newer model. These signs include:
- High energy costs – Energy costs can increase in a couple of different ways. You may notice an increase in over time that never ceases, or you may notice a sudden jump in your energy costs that then remains high. Either way, increases on your energy costs can point toward a loss of AC efficiency.
- Lack of cooling – If your air conditioner begins to struggle, keeping your home cool, that can be a sign it is reaching the end of its lifespan. Sometimes there are minor problems that can be fixed with maintenance or repairs, but other times damage to your air conditioner is bad enough to warrant a replacement. You can hold your hand up to an air vent during operation to see if you feel cold air blowing out. If you don’t, that’s a red flag that you need to schedule service and consider a replacement.
- Poor airflow – Sometimes your air conditioner is just fine at cooling, but struggles to have enough airflow. You can try to remedy this by yourself and change out the air filter to see if that makes a difference. If not, there may be a blockage somewhere else in the system impacting air flow enough that it’s not reaching the vents in your home.
- Major repair needs – If you find out that something major inside of your air conditioner needs to be replaced, like the compressor, it may make more sense to invest that money in a new unit instead. Spending thousands of dollars to replace a major component on your air conditioner may not be worth the money that you are spending. Instead, you may still face additional repair needs as the remaining components inside of the unit continue aging.
- Changes in operation – Your AC should have pretty standard cooling cycles. If you notice changes like your air conditioner turning on and off frequently, or staying on for an extended period of time, something is wrong. Either safety features are triggering your air conditioner to turn off sooner than it should or your air conditioner is struggling to cool your home as much as you can expect into the unit is staying on longer in an attempt to cool your home.
Contact RKM Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment with us. Done Right, Priced Right.